Jason Long 6th Period It Makes Cents to Me 10/19/11

Purpose In this lab experiment, I will be exploring physical and chemical properties of one-cent coins that have been minted since 1983 and use evidence to determine the make-up of the coins, and I will compare the amount of matter, or moles, of the substances within the penny. I will determine the average density of the pennies, using a method of finding volume called water displacement. Then I will expose all materials in the penny to hydrochloric acid and observe the results. The results will allow me to identify the type of metal that makes up most of the penny. I will also find the number of moles of each type of metal within the penny. Purpose See the pre-lab for procedure.

Data Tables Measurements from Part A of the Experiment Penny Pile 0 1 1+2 1+2+3 1+2+3+4 1+2+3+4+5 Mass (g) None 10.02 g 20.03 g 30.1 g 40.1 g 50.15 g Penny + Water Volume (mL) 24 mL 25.1 mL 27.0 mL 28.8 mL 29.9 mL 31.1 mL

Measurements from Part B of the Experiment Item Filed Penny Filed Penny In Acid Mass (g) 2.4922 g Not measured Observations The filed edges are shiny and silver. The filed edges are black, the penny fades in color, the penny is covered in bubbles, small bubbles rise from filed edges of the penny. Feels soft, almost like paper, feels light in hand, hollow, the penny faces appear wrinkled, there are no silver edges, the penny is bendable, crinkles when you touch it, and the inside is brown.

Penny after Acid

0.06 g

Graph

Graph and work are attached behind the pre-lab.

Data Analysis 1. Volume of Pennies Volume of Pennies and Water-Volume of Water= Volume of Pennies Penny Pile 1: 25.1 mL-24 mL= 1.9 mL Penny Pile 1+2: 27.0 mL-24 mL= 3 mL Penny Pile 1+2+3: 28.8 mL-24 mL= 4.8 mL Penny Pile 1+2+3+4: 29.9 mL-24 mL= 5.9 mL Penny Pile 1+2+3+4+5: 31.1 mL-24 mL= 7.1 mL 2. Mass of Non-Copper Material Mass of Filed Penny-Mass of Penny after Acid= Mass of Non Copper Material 2.4922 g-0.06 g= 2.43 g

3. Moles of Copper Grams of Copper 1 Number of moles Average Atomic Mass of Copper

0.06 g Cu 1

1 mol 63.546 g Cu

9x10-4 mol

4. Moles of Non-Copper Material Grams of Non-Copper Material (Zinc) 1 Number of moles Average Atomic Mass of Zinc

2.43 g Zn 1

1 mol 65.38 g Zn

0.0372 mol

Results/Discussion 9. The Copper in a penny appears to be a brown or gold-like color that can be shiny depending on condition, while the Zinc in a penny appears to be a silver color that is shiny. 10. When the penny is put into Hydrochloric Acid, the copper appears exactly the same as it did before putting into the acid. In a different sense, the Zinc turned into a black color material that wasnt even attached to the penny. 11. Ratio of Moles Moles of Unknown Metal/Moles of Copper= Ratio of Moles 0.0372/9x10-4=41 |Observed value-Accepted value| Accepted value x100% = Percent Error

|41-37.90| 37.9

x100%

8% error

Volume of Pennies Density of Pennies Identity of Unknown Metal Mass of Unknown Metal Moles of Copper Moles of Unknown Metal Ratio of Moles (Unknown to Copper) % Error of Ratio to Moles

1.9 mL 8 g/mL Zn (Zinc)

Results Table 3 mL 4.8 mL

5.9 mL

7.1 mL

2.43 g 9x10-5 mol 0.0372 mol 9x10-4

8% error

Conclusion The purpose of this lab was to find out how to find out the composition of a penny using density and showing the amount of moles of two substances that the penny is made up of. I measured the volume of pennies. I also measured the mass of pennies before placing them into Hydrochloric Acid and after placing them in the acid. I found out that the density of a penny was 8 g/mL which meant that it was mainly composed of Zinc. This meant that there were 9x10-5 moles of Copper

and 0.0372 moles of Zinc. This lab was very interesting and will teach me how to do many other things in chemistry.